Raise The Future

the organization identifies and cultivates potential adoptive families for waiting children using child-centric recruitment methods and tools. Recruitment activities used to identify potential families include: hosting adoption networking events partnering with local news stations to broadcast wednesday's child profiles featuring registered children in the children's gallery on the Raise the Future website, conducting monthly adoption orientation and information classes, and using print and electronic media to create awareness of and support for the adoption of waiting children. Additionally, the organization works to help prospective adoptive families across the country understand the adoption process, connect with county human services agencies and child placement agencies to begin the adoption process, gain access to resources and professionals, and respond to questions and inquiries on specific children. One of the most popular ways families learn more about waiting youth is through heart galleries. the heart gallery is a collaborative photographic exhibit designed to increase the number of adoptive families for children needing homes in Colorado, Missouri, Nevada, and Utah. the heart gallery helps waiting youth find loving families and permanency through images that bring the child's personality and beauty into focus. In addition, small matching events are held which allow prospective families and waiting children to interact in small, facilitated events that include activities fun for all. During the year-end, june 30, 2023, 36 Colorado, Missouri, Nevada, and Utah youth were featured at matching events. Three of these children have found loving adoptive families.

Family preparation and support begins before a family has ever adopted. the family support program is geared toward education, support, and coaching. Hands-on, individualized, tailored supportive services are offered to families throughout their entire adoption journey. By developing relationships with families early, family commitment to adoption is maintained and adoption disruptions are often minimized. Classes and training opportunities are offered to families and professionals and are geared toward providing information, support, and guidance in creating healthy, stable adoptive relationships. All children have entered the foster care system as a result of trauma, abuse, or neglect. the goal of many trainings is to help parents understand how these events may impact children and to recognize behaviors as symptoms of those experiences. the ultimate outcome for some of the training courses is for families to have the knowledge and tools they need to help their children become securely attached, successful, and healthy adults. Nearly 2,027 families and professionals benefitted from over 1,130 hours of training and support through classes, webinars, and conferences that were offered during the year-end, june 30, 2023. Other postadoption resources include helpful articles and videos that were offered to adoptive families via bi-monthly e-newsletters.

Intensive recruitment services build positive, healthy relationships with youth to understand their strengths, interests, needs, and family preferences, which inevitably enhances the ability of the youth to find strength and feel empowered through the process. the program follows an evidence-based model that increases the likelihood of finding that parental resource by as much as three times. the model is a net cost savings to the community, as the program reduces congregate care and foster care costs. Each recruiter maintains a caseload of 12 to 15 youth who are the oldest, longest waiting, hardest to place, and most vulnerable to aging out of foster care.

the organization works at a national level as a partner in the national center for diligent recruitment and national center for enhanced post adoption. In this work, we support states, tribes and territories to build their capacity within these respective areas of work by providing free tailored technical assistance, webinars, resources, and peer connection opportunities.